We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ginny Delaitre. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ginny below.

Ginny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

VDS Digital Agency started with just me in 2021. In those early days, I was doing everything—building the business, managing clients, and laying the foundation for what VDS would become. It was both exciting and overwhelming, but I knew that creating a strong vision and culture was essential before growing the team.

When it came time to hire, I focused on finding people who shared VDS’s core values: transparency, innovation, collaboration, and client-centric solutions. At first, I relied on my social network of friends to find my first employees. However, I quickly realized that working with people I was close to would not be easy. We did not focus enough on the tasks and ended up experiencing delays.

After that, I pivoted, relied on my professional networks and referrals for my next hires, and made the interview process more hands-on. I didn’t have a lot of resumes to review at first, so I depended on interviews to ensure the long-term goals of the applicants matched those of VDS. Even now, I want to ensure that the team I am building enjoys working for me and my clients. I have always been known for delivering high-quality results, and I want to offer the same level of service as when I started by myself (if not better). Having people enthusiastic about what they do helps elevate us to that level.

If I were starting today, I might skip my friends and immediately focus on hiring people from my professional network. I was unsure of my leadership skills, and working with people I knew was easier at first, but it ended up creating more tension, and separation was harder. However, I wouldn’t change the personal, intentional way I built my team from the start—it’s what shaped VDS’s success.

Ginny, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Ginny Delaitre, founder and CEO of VDS Digital Agency, a UX-driven marketing firm based in Reston, Northern Virginia. My journey into digital marketing started with a passion for helping businesses connect with their customers in a meaningful way, which arose from my past work as a designer and UX researcher. In 2021, I launched VDS to provide small to medium-sized businesses and startups with user-centric strategies that drive tangible growth.

At VDS, we offer services such as UX-driven marketing strategies, website creation and maintenance, social media management, content marketing, podcast and video creation, UX audits, advertising, data analytics, digital and print design, and more. What sets us apart is our focus on understanding our clients’ needs and creating strategies that improve engagement, boost visibility, and optimize their marketing spending. What differentiates us is the unique UX Marketing strategies we have built with our loyal customers over time.

I’m proud of how VDS simplifies marketing for clients, providing actionable insights and hands-free management so they can focus on running their businesses. Our core values—transparency, innovation, collaboration, and client-centric solutions—guide everything we do.

For anyone considering working with VDS, know that we’re more than a marketing agency; we’re a long-term partner committed, as much as you are, to helping your business succeed.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I pivoted from being a designer to becoming a full-time marketer to make a greater impact and help businesses tackle their most important challenges: generating leads and selling their products or services. While design and user experience are crucial, I realized that even the best design holds limited value without leads and sales in the first place.

This shift allowed me to offer more meaningful and impactful solutions to my clients. I had seen their struggles firsthand—businesses with great ideas and products but no clear path to connect with their audience or drive growth. By focusing on marketing, I could address those pain points directly while still improving their overall user experience. It was a change driven by my desire to provide real, tangible results and make a difference where it mattered most.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The most important factor in building my reputation has been creating valuable relationships with my first clients and consistently delivering the best value for the price they pay. It’s essential not to undervalue yourself or constantly offer discounts, as doing so can compromise the quality of your services and hinder your growth. Holding your value and aiming for steady, sustainable growth is key.

I’ve also made it a priority to take on new challenges, ensuring I can deliver or adapt to meet client needs in the short term. Honesty has been another keystone—I never make promises I can’t keep. By staying true to myself and focusing on delivering great results, I’ve earned the trust of my clients. Trust fosters loyalty, repeat business, and referrals, allowing your reputation to grow naturally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vdsdigitalagency.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vdsdigitalagency
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vdsdigitalagency
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiedelaitre/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/vdsagency
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vdsdigitalagency

Image Credits

AI-Generated Cover
Designs by VDS Digital Agency